The Department of State Services, DSS tells the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday that suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, would flee the country if granted bail.
The Attorney General of the Federation also supported the argument of the DSS, describing Emefiele as a “flight risk.”.
The former head of the apex bank is challenging his detention by the DSS and denying him access to family members and lawyers.
You will recall that Emefiele was suspended by President Bola Tinubu and subsequently detained by the DSS since June 10.
At the resumption of hearing on Tuesday, both DSS and Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, OAGF stated these in separate counter-affidavits filed in a fundamental rights enforcement suit by the suspended CBN chief.
In its own affidavit, the OAGF dismissed the speculation that Emefiele was being held for terrorist-related crimes. It also said he was not being victimised for his involvement in politics and the botched naira redesign policy.
The DSS, on its part, said that Emefiele was being held pursuant to an order of a competent court.
It added that the suspended CBN boss was arrested “upon reasonable suspicion of committing acts which constitute a criminal breach of trust, incitement to violence, criminal misappropriation of public funds, economic sabotage, economic crimes of national security dimension and undermining the security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Tijani Gazal, who represented the OAGF, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that Emefiele’s allegation of unlawful detention was unfounded.
After entertaining arguments from parties, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned until July 13 for a ruling